Life Jackets & PFDs

Life jackets, or personal flotation devices (PFDs), used to be sorted into five performance types. In 2014, the U.S. Coast Guard moved away from those codes to a wearable or throwable classification plus a buoyancy level, but plenty of jackets still carry a Type rating, so we think it's worth knowing all five.• Type I: Offshore. The most buoyant and bulky, built for rough or isolated open ocean where rescue may take hours. They turn an unconscious wearer face-up.• Type II: Near-shore. Still highly buoyant and good for rougher water, but a step below Type I and meant for near-shore use.• Type III: Flotation aids. The most common PFD is what we build. Lightweight and streamlined, they keep a conscious person upright in calm water, so they're the go-to for paddle boarding, kayaking, tubing, and any active watersport.• Type IV: Throwable. Meant to be thrown to a conscious person rather than worn. A life preserver ring is the classic example.• Type V: Special use. Purpose-built for activities like whitewater rafting or windsurfing, and also rated as a Type I, II, or III.

A Type III life jacket is the most common PFD for recreational water sports, and it's what we build. It keeps a conscious person upright and buoyant in calm, near-shore water, which makes it the standard for paddle boarding, kayaking, waterskiing, and tubing. In the modern U.S. Coast Guard system, a Type III is the same as a Level 70, and every retrospec Bobbin' life jacket is a Level 70 PFD.

Modern U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets are rated by performance level instead of type, and the higher the number, the more buoyancy you get. The five main levels are 50, 70, 100, 150, and 275. We build every retrospec Bobbin' life jacket to Level 70, which is the sweet spot for calm, near-shore paddling: enough flotation to keep you safe, little enough bulk to move freely.

We use the terms interchangeably, but there is a technical difference. All life jackets are PFDs (personal flotation devices), but not all PFDs are life jackets. A life jacket is a wearable vest that keeps you upright and afloat. The wider PFD family also includes throwable devices like rings and buoys that you toss to someone in the water instead of wearing. When you're shopping for gear to wear, a life jacket is what you want.

No, we use “life jacket” and “life vest” to mean the same thing, and so does just about everyone else. Both are wearable personal flotation devices (PFDs). Whatever you call it, what matters to us is that it's U.S. Coast Guard approved and rated at the right performance level for what you're doing on the water.

A USCG approved life jacket has been independently tested and certified to meet U.S. Coast Guard standards for buoyancy, construction, and fit, and it carries a label inside listing its performance level and size range. That approval is what makes it a legal life-saving device on U.S. waters. We make every retrospec Bobbin' life jacket a USCG and Transport Canada approved Level 70 PFD, certified for recreational near-shore and inland use across all of our sizes.

The safest life jacket is the one that fits right, suits your activity, and actually gets worn. The most buoyant PFDs (Level 275 / Type I) win in open-ocean emergencies, but they're bulky and hard to move in. For the paddling most of us do, we'd take a Level 70 wearable every time, since it balances safety and mobility. A jacket that rides up, pinches, or sits loose is not doing its job.

The U.S. Coast Guard requires one life jacket per person aboard any watercraft, and children under a certain age are legally required to wear theirs, though that age varies from state to state. Our take is simpler: if you have to carry it anyway, wear it. A life jacket only works when it's on, so we'd keep kids in a properly sized retrospec Bobbin' any time you're near the water.

Yes. The U.S. Coast Guard classifies stand-up paddle boards as vessels, so you're legally required to have a USCG approved life jacket on board any time you're on open water, and many states require you to wear it rather than just carry it. Beyond the rule, we'd always wear one on open water, in cold conditions, or anywhere a fall could put distance between you and your board.

For kayaking, we'd look for a snug Level 70 or Type III PFD that lets your arms move freely and sits low enough not to fight your seat on longer paddles. That's exactly what we built our retrospec Bobbin' Adult Life Jacket to do, and it pairs nicely with our inflatable kayaks.

We size our life jackets by weight, and for adults by chest measurement too. Our Bobbin' line comes in four jackets, with the adult available in two chest sizes:• Kids under 30 lb: Bobbin' Infant Life Jacket• Kids 30 to 50 lb: Bobbin' Child Life Jacket• Kids 50 to 90 lb: Bobbin' Youth Life Jacket• Adults over 90 lb, chest 30 to 52 in: Bobbin' Adult Life Jacket• Adults over 90 lb, chest 40 to 60 in: Bobbin' Adult Life Jacket (XL)

First pick the right size by weight and chest measurement. Then put it on and fasten every strap. It should feel snug without limiting how you move, and you should be able to slide about two fingers between the jacket and your shoulder. Have someone pull up on the shoulder straps, or lift a child by the shoulders, to make sure it does not ride up. If it does, tighten the straps or size down.

Little ones need a jacket sized and rated for their weight, with features built for small paddlers, like a grab handle and head support to help keep them face-up in the water. We make our retrospec Bobbin' Infant Life Jacket for the smallest crew members, and the Bobbin' Child and Bobbin' Youth jackets take it from there as they grow. All of them are USCG approved Level 70 PFDs.

For the flatwater paddling most of us do, a Level 70 wearable is the one you want, and we'd expect to spend somewhere around $25 to $50 for a quality, U.S. Coast Guard approved model. That's right where our retrospec Bobbin' jackets sit, so you're not paying for offshore buoyancy you'll never use.

Absolutely, we design them for it. The only ones that get in the way are the very buoyant Level 100-plus models (Type I and II), which are built to float an unconscious person and are too bulky for easy swimming. For active use, we'd stick with a Level 70 (Type III) like our Bobbin' jackets, which are light and streamlined enough to swim, paddle, and play in.

Life jackets don't carry a hard expiration date, but they do wear out from sun, use, and time. We'd inspect yours at the start of every season for waterlogging, fading, compressed foam, torn seams, and broken hardware. The Coast Guard recommends testing foam-filled life jackets for wear and buoyancy at least once a year, and many makers suggest replacing them every five to ten years.

Yes, just do it gently. We'd hand wash with mild soap and cool water, skipping detergents, bleach, and any harsh chemicals that break down foam and fabric. Rinse it well, then let it air dry completely out of direct sunlight before you store it. Never run a life jacket through the washing machine or dryer.

We'd retire a life jacket the moment it shows real wear: torn fabric or straps, broken or corroded buckles, punctures, waterlogged or compressed foam, faded material, or zippers that no longer hold. As the Coast Guard puts it, waterlogged, faded, or otherwise damaged life jackets should be discarded. When in doubt, replace it, because a jacket that can't do its job isn't worth keeping.